Peer Review & Vendor Operations Supervisor

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Peer Review & Vendor Operations Supervisor based in India.

This role offers the opportunity to lead critical publishing operations by managing peer review workflows, vendor partnerships, and operational performance initiatives.
You will oversee a team while ensuring efficient manuscript progression from submission to production with strong quality and timeline controls.
The position combines people leadership, vendor governance, analytics, and continuous improvement in a global environment.
You will use data-driven insights to optimize processes, improve operational efficiency, and support strategic decision-making.
Working closely with editorial, production, technology, and international stakeholders, you will help deliver high-quality outcomes at scale.
This is an ideal opportunity for an experienced operations professional who enjoys building strong teams, improving workflows, and driving measurable impact.

The Peer Review & Vendor Operations Supervisor will be responsible for managing end-to-end peer review operations, leading internal teams, overseeing vendor performance, and driving operational excellence through structured processes and analytics.

• Oversee peer review workflows from manuscript submission through transition to production, ensuring quality standards, efficiency, and timely delivery.
• Supervise and support a team of 5–7 professionals by managing workload allocation, monitoring performance, coaching team members, and supporting capability development.
• Drive daily and weekly operational planning, productivity tracking, and workflow performance improvements.
• Act as the main operational contact for external vendors, maintaining strong relationships and ensuring alignment with service levels, quality expectations, and delivery timelines.
• Monitor vendor performance using scorecards, dashboards, and review mechanisms while managing escalations and corrective actions.
• Build and maintain operational reports, dashboards, and analytics tools using Excel and Power BI to track throughput, turnaround times, capacity, and utilization.
• Analyze workflow data to identify trends, risks, bottlenecks, and improvement opportunities, providing actionable recommendations to leadership.
• Support capacity planning and resource forecasting using historical performance data and operational trends.
• Identify workflow challenges, quality issues, and operational risks, implementing preventive measures and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Maintain and improve standard operating procedures, governance frameworks, documentation, and audit-ready operational records.
• Collaborate with global stakeholders, including editorial teams, production teams, technology partners, and business operations groups.
• Support vendor onboarding, training, process transitions, and operational change initiatives.

Requirements:

The ideal candidate is an experienced operations professional with strong leadership capabilities, analytical skills, and knowledge of publishing or peer review environments.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Operations, Publishing, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in peer review operations, publishing workflows, operational management, team leadership, or vendor management.
• Proven experience managing teams, including performance management, coaching, workload planning, and employee development.
• Strong understanding of peer review processes, academic publishing operations, and vendor-supported service models.
• Experience managing operational workflows with a focus on productivity, quality, turnaround times, and continuous improvement.
• Strong analytical abilities with experience interpreting operational data and converting insights into business actions.
• Mandatory proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Power BI, including dashboard creation, reporting, and performance analysis.
• Experience with vendor governance, SLA/KPI tracking, performance reviews, and stakeholder communication.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with confidence working with global teams and senior stakeholders.
• High attention to detail, accountability, ownership mindset, and problem-solving ability.
• Ability to identify process gaps, recommend improvements, and support operational transformation initiatives.

Benefits:

• Flexible working arrangements with hybrid work options where applicable.
• Opportunity to work in a supportive and inclusive global environment.
• Professional growth opportunities through learning, development, and career progression programs.
• Exposure to international publishing operations and cross-functional collaboration.
• Opportunity to lead teams and influence operational improvements at scale.
• Inclusive workplace culture that values diverse perspectives and encourages authenticity.
• Employee support programs and benefits designed to promote work-life balance.